Jordan Red Crescent prepares for possible population movements from Iraq

by Rana Sidani in Amman
The Jordan Red Crescent Society (JRCS)
and the International Federation are preparing to cope with a possible
influx of vulnerable people from Iraq, should a war break out in the coming
days or weeks.

"We are prepared to assist at least
10,000 people in the first days of a crisis," said JRCS President
Dr Muhammad Al-Hadid. The JRCS could provide relief to foreigners or third
country nationals in the event that they are evacuated from Iraq as a result
of a conflict, but also to Iraqi refugees if necessary.

"If we are asked by the Government
of Jordan to set up a camp, we will do it," Al-Hadid pointed out.
"This doesn't mean that the Red Crescent is expecting such population
movements to happen. But we are preparing ourselves to fulfil our humanitarian
mission of assisting the vulnerable, whatever the reason."

"We are building on the experience
we had during the 1991 war when more than one million Iraqi refugees came
into Jordan," he added.

In the past weeks, the Federation has
pre-positioned relief supplies in Jordan, including non-food items for
5,000 people sent to the Jordan Red Crescent. These items consist of tents,
blankets, mattresses, stoves, and heaters, as well as kitchen sets, jerry
cans and soap. The Federation also has non-food regional stocks in Jordan,
sufficient to cater for 40,000 people, which can be sent to other countries
in the region if necessary.

Federation specialists are working hand-in-hand
with their JRCS colleagues. "The Red Crescent is recruiting 20 employees,
for whom we helped define responsibilities and job descriptions,"
explained Patrick Howard, the Federation's disaster management co-ordinator
in Jordan. "At least 200 volunteers will be trained on camp management
and water and sanitation in the coming days."

"It is important that our staff
and volunteers know exactly what to do in case of emergency," Al-Hadid
commented. "We have 600 registered volunteers, many of whom are experienced
in providing first aid and primary health care services. Fifty were specifically
trained on disaster management." They stand ready to set up a camp
in the Jordanian desert, next to the Iraqi border.

Preparing for the worst, the International
Federation is supporting Red Crescent Societies in all countries surrounding
Iraq to cope with a possible humanitarian crisis. Together they are presently
in a position to quickly provide assistance to some 345,000 people. In
Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, the Federation has access to relief
items for 20,000 people.

Some 32 emergency response units (ERUs),
with specialised equipment and personnel, are on stand by in national Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies across the world, ready to be deployed
to the region if necessary. Seven ERUs for basic health care and referral
hospital services in particular have been mobilised by the Red Cross Societies
of Finland, Germany, Japan, Norway and Spain.

In addition, the Federation has increased
the number of its international delegates in Iran, Syria, and Kuwait. The
regional delegation in Amman has now 30 staff, including 16 delegates.